Player Interview: Jono Ready To Weave The Maltese Magic
Nairn County became the only club to have a player in their squad capped at full international level earlier this week when they announced the signing of Jonathan Holland. The man from Malta has penned an 18-month deal with the club.
The signing has raised a few eyebrows in Highland League circles due to its uniqueness as the player is probably the first Malta internationalist to play in the league, if not the first Malteseman. Holland has enjoyed a successful career in his homeland and comes to the club with a considerable CV. County manager Les Fridge stated that the 29-year-old is still seeking full fitness and left him on the bench for the 3-0 defeat at Buckie Thistle. After the match, Holland told this site how he has enjoyed his time at Station Park so far.
He said: "I have been here for a couple of weeks with the players and it has been a nice experience. There is a very nice bunch of lads at the club and they have welcomed me. Training is up to scratch thanks to Les (Fridge, manager) and Mike (Hendry, assistant manager). It is not easy with it being a semi-professional system, but the lads are up for it and seem to be doing well in the league. Obviously many clubs have been told to spend a certain amount of money so it's not easy to compete but at least you can see we are up there with the top four or five teams which is important."
Holland enjoyed a 10-year spell with Maltese club Floriana FC making 182 appearances and scoring 31 goals as well as winning the Super Five Cup. He then decided to come to England to try his luck in Conference football before returning to his homeland with Birkirkara FC where he picked up a league winners medal in season 2005-06 and made 27 appearances in two seasons, scoring one goal.
The midfielder said: "I am a Floriana Football Club product. I started there and made my debut when I was 16-years-old in the Premier League and played there for a good 10 years before playing Conference football in England with Bradford Park Avenue and a short spell at Halifax Town. I then returned to Malta with Birkirkara where I won the league. I spent two years at Birkirkara and now I am in Scotland."
He added: "I played in Europe with Floriana and Birkirkara in the Inter-toto Cup and the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds."
As well as a successful club career, Holland has also starred on the international scene playing several times for the Maltese national side, making his debut in 1999 in a home match against Iceland.
He said: "Playing international football is probably the highlight of my career together with winning the championship of Malta. There were some great games and I have some great memories, not so much the results though! But the atmosphere and playing in front of 50,000 or 60,000 people has to be the highlight of my career.
"I played away against Denmark and France and home against England and Sweden. They were probably the biggest games but obviously playing against Bulgaria and Czech Republic were good experiences as well. Overall, every time I represented my country it was an honour and I miss it."
Holland was refusing to rule out the prospect of representing Malta again despite seemingly being off the geographic radar of national coach Dusan Fitzel.
He said: "They are doing really well just now and it is not the easiest of tasks. But you have to perform first at club level before you can think about representing your country."
Holland explained the chain of events during the summer that led to him being Nairn County's first ever Maltese player.
He said: "It all started when George Adams at Ross County invited me over so that is when I first took my chances and came over. It never actually worked (at Ross County) due to various circumstances to shorten it. Then I went to Elgin and now I am at Nairn and quite happy to do well with Nairn and start off my football career again after a lot of months without playing."
And the man who can also play in defence declared himself fit and raring to go with his Highland League career.
He said: "I feel much better now than I was three or four weeks ago so it is just down to hard work now and the gaffer really. I am available for my debut with Nairn County for the next game."